Will Spain get a left-wing coalition?
After his election victory on 10 November, Spain's caretaker Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was able to quickly agree on a coalition with the left-wing party Unidas Podemos (UP). But for the formation of a stable government, the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) party must abstain from voting at the very least. Spanish media discuss the left-wing coalition's chances of success.
Sánchez is the lesser evil
The Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) will have to swallow its pride and support Sánchez if its want to prevent the far right from growing even stronger, writes El Periódico de Catalunya:
“It will be very problematic, but Pedro Sánchez must become head of government. And the ERC, which has now understood that unilateral secession is the wrong approach, knows that a progressive Spanish government that says it is willing to negotiate is better than new elections with an uncertain outcome and the danger of the [far-right] Vox emerging even stronger. In any case, the ERC acknowledges that voting against Sánchez together with the [conservative] PP and Vox would do nothing to improve the situation.”
An alliance with a short shelf-life
eldiario.es doubts that the forced marriage between the Socialists and Unidas Podemos will last:
“A lot of political sensitivity and skill will be needed to navigate these troubled waters. And neither Pedro Sánchez nor [Podemos Secretary General] Pablo Iglesias have shown signs of being particularly endowed with these attributes in recent times. Reforms in the areas of pensions, education, health and financial equalisation are on the agenda. As are the lifting of the ban on demonstrations as well as the - partial or complete - repeal of the labour market reform. ... And all of this within the confines of a very tight budget, which will cause disappointments and possibly protests, under the close scrutiny not just of Brussels but also of the business sector.”